Join up to join in
By Mary Franklyn
General Secretary
This edition of Western Teacher incorporates Getting Organised 2023.
We had the most incredible year in 2022 with one of toughest and most unusual General Agreement processes I can recall.
Under pressure from the Public Sector Alliance, which the SSTUWA helped to create, the state government changed its wages policy not once, but three times.
The SSTUWA negotiated a previously unheard of levelling up element which saw our members get initial salary rises in their pay earlier but still ensured they gained from further changes in wages policy by the state government.
In the end members got a pay rise of three per cent or $3,130 (whichever is greater), as well as a one-off cost of living payment of $3,000. For someone on $100,000 a year that means a total increase of $6,130 (pre-tax) last year, compared to the $1,000 capped increase the state government was pledging one year ago.
It was not a perfect result given the massive rises in the cost of living seen in 2022. It was though a significant step forward.
There were also significant gains in terms of workplace improvements for both schools and TAFE members.
General Secretary
Amazingly the whole process begins again in 2023. We need every rep and member behind us to take the gains made in 2022 as just the start in our battle for better workplaces for educators.
The union has developed a series of online resources for reps to answer their questions and enable every branch to ensure the new agreement is put into action at the workplace level. We will continue to encourage activism at the branch level.
Workplace branches are crucial to what we do.
As ever I offer my sincere thanks to those who have already stepped up as reps, deputy reps, women’s contact officers, WHS reps, treasurers, secretaries, District Council delegates or State Council delegates. For those considering it, I encourage you to do it.
You will receive training and support all the way, because as we like to remind members – you’re never alone in a union.
To help you get started, everything you need to know is in your Getting Organised guide, which arrived with this Western Teacher. If you need more assistance, contact your allocated school or TAFE organiser – you’ll find the list on page nine of the guide.
So please, join in. Have your say. Have your voice heard.
SSTUWA district organisers, from left: Cat Mason, Joe Isaia, Frank Herzog, Ian Daw, Vicki Turner, Sally Dennis, Marie-Louise Earle- Sadler, Cherry Bogunovich, Natalie Swinbourn. Not pictured: David Lee (leaders), Ramona Mitusis (TAFE)
